Compare towns

Rockingham vs Charlestown vs Westminster vs Springfield

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Rockingham has the shortest commute (20 min average).
Charlestown has the most kids (22.4% under 18).
Westminster has the most people working from home (27%).
Springfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (-3.3%).

What matters to you?

Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.

MeasureRockinghamCharlestownWestminsterSpringfield
People
Population
4,807
4,889
2,999Lowest
9,084Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-8.5%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
-6%
U.S.: +7.4%
-5.1%
U.S.: +7.4%
-3.3%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
46.4±2.6
19% above U.S.
41.6±8.5Lowest
7% above U.S.
53.5±3.7Highest
38% above U.S.
43.2±3.7
11% above U.S.
Kids under 18
19.2%±4.3
U.S.: 22%
22.4%±5.7Highest
U.S.: 22%
18.2%±4.7Lowest
U.S.: 22%
18.6%±3.4
U.S.: 22%
Charlestown and Rockingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
29.8%±5Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
22.4%±5.2Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
27.6%±6.8
U.S.: 17.2%
23.6%±3.7
U.S.: 17.2%
Rockingham and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
37.1%
U.S.: 35.7%
12.5%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
46.3%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
23.3%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
6.1%±2.9Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.9%±3.2
U.S.: 6.4%
4.4%±3.1
U.S.: 6.4%
2.3%±1.4Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Rockingham and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$70,857±$16k
12% below U.S.
$47,338±$23kLowest
41% below U.S.
$71,491±$4kHighest
11% below U.S.
$66,571±$13k
18% below U.S.
Westminster and Rockingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$210,900±$14k
37% below U.S.
$228,000±$62k
31% below U.S.
$273,800±$35kHighest
18% below U.S.
$192,400±$20kLowest
42% below U.S.
Westminster and Charlestown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,062±$101
25% below U.S.
$1,099±$85Highest
22% below U.S.
$916±$126Lowest
35% below U.S.
$963±$100
32% below U.S.
Charlestown and Rockingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,887
57% above U.S.
$5,143Highest
65% above U.S.
$4,063Lowest
30% above U.S.
$4,807
54% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
46.7%±13.7Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
65%±24.9Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
49.2%±7.5
U.S.: 51.1%
49.6%±15.6
U.S.: 51.1%
Charlestown and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
16.7%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
14.8%
U.S.: 12.5%
8.8%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
14.8%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
61.7%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
78.5%
U.S.: 65.2%
88.2%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
67.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1938Lowest
42 yrs older than U.S.
1977
3 yrs older than U.S.
1980Highest
same as U.S.
1958
22 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
20 minLowest
25% below U.S.
24 min
9% below U.S.
24 min
10% below U.S.
27 minHighest
3% above U.S.
Work from home
17.9%±7.1
U.S.: 15.1%
7.6%±4.5Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
27%±6.6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
15.1%±5.5
U.S.: 15.1%
Westminster and Rockingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #65 of 70 in VT #113 of 120 in NH #53 of 70 in VT #64 of 70 in VT
School district Rockingham School District Fall Mountain Regional School District Bellows Falls Union High School District #27 · Westminster School District River Valley Technical Center · Springfield School District
High school in town None in town None in town Bellows Falls Union High School Springfield High School
Students per teacherat that high school — —
10.6Lowest
14.3Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story None yet None yet None yet None yet

U.S. average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.